College Football Picks- Bowl Games 2021 (December 17-21)

It is that time of the season to go Bowling in College Football and I am planning to split my threads into four parts over the coming month.

This one will cover the early games, before I will begin a second thread that should take in all the games to be played over the Christmas period. Following that, I will have a thread covering the Bowl Games around the New Year period before the final post covering the National Championship Game.

You have to question motivations and it is also a good idea to note players that may decide to skip the lesser Bowl Games in preparation for the NFL Draft which is coming up in the first half of 2022. It can make selections during the Bowl period a little more difficult than the regular season, although any Picks are far from straight-forward over the course of the season.

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders vs Toledo Rockets Pick: The 2021 Bowl season will begin with the Bahamas Bowl and it will involve two teams who will feel they underachieved in their Conferences this season. The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (6-6) and the Toledo Rockets (7-5) should still be plenty motivated ahead of this Bowl Game, even if the exotic surroundings can be something of a distraction to players.

The Blue Raiders have had a really inconsistent season, but Head Coach Rick Stockstill is hoping to lead his team to their first winning record since 2018. That was also the last season in which Middle Tennessee played in a Bowl Game, although the school will be looking for a better conclusion to 2021 having been blown out by the Appalachian State Mountaineers in the New Orleans Bowl.

They are a considerable underdog against the Toledo Rockets who won three in a row to finish with a guaranteed winning record for a fifth season in six under Head Coach Jason Candle. That cannot be underestimated, even if the Rockets were not quite good enough to reach the MAC Championship Game.

Toledo will be encouraged by the three wins in succession and they have been an all or nothing kind of team- they have either blown teams out, or ended up losing scrappy games, while the Rockets are another team that have not been invited into a Bowl Game since 2018. It is something that will irritate the Seniors on the team considering they have been eligible for selection in both 2019 and 2020 and I expect Toledo to want to make the most of the opportunity in front of them.

I have to believe the Rockets will be encouraged by the way they have been running the ball and establishing the ground attack will make them very dangerous, especially as Toledo have been a team that doesn't shoot themselves in the foot. In the three game winning run, the Rockets have pounded the rock with considerable success and I do think that is a potential problem for the Blue Raiders Defensive Line, even though they have largely been tough to run against.

The Toledo Offensive Line is also very strong in pass protection and that is going to give Dequan Finn a good chance to have a big game at Quarter Back. I expect the Rockets to also factor in Carter Bradley into the game plan at the Quarter Back position, and between the two players I do think the Rockets can move the ball through the air thanks to the protection offered by the Offensive Line.

Looking after the ball has been a big feature of the way Toledo have operated this season, but Middle Tennessee will be looking to keep the turnovers coming. It could be a key to the outcome of the game considering some of the Offensive difficulties that the Blue Raiders may have in this game as they continue to operate with a third string Quarter Back.

That makes it very important for the underdog to establish the run, especially as any struggles up front is going to shift the momentum in favour of the Rockets considerably. In recent games it has been possible for the Blue Raiders to get the run going, but over the course of the season the Rockets have been pretty stout on the Defensive Line and they may even risk putting an extra man or two in the box to make sure Middle Tennessee are relying on an inexperienced Quarter Back to beat them.

Any time Toledo have their opponent in third and long, the very strong pass rush being generated by the Rockets is likely going to take over this game. That pressure has enabled the Secondary to make some big plays and I think it is going to be the main reason Toledo are able to win this game and pull clear.

Middle Tennessee are 2-5 against the spread in their last seven as the underdog, while they are 1-5 against the spread in their last six on a neutral field.

Neither team has been at their best in recent Bowl Games, but Toledo do play non-Conference opponents pretty well and I think that will help them here. As long as they can continue to play mistake-free Football, I think the Rockets can win this one by a margin wide enough to cover this mark.

Northern Illinois Huskies vs Coastal Carolina Chanticleers Pick: They finished 0-6 in 2020 and the Northern Illinois Huskies (9-4) were tipped up by many to have another difficult season in front of them. Head Coach Thomas Hammock had overseen back to back losing seasons, but the Huskies were rewarded for keeping faith in him as he led them to the MAC Championship in 2021.

That means Northern Illinois are back in the Bowl season for the first time since 2018 and they are looking to snap a six game losing run in the post-season. A relatively short period of preparation for this Bowl Game may not be ideal for the Huskies, but they have already overachieved by picking up a Championship and they may feel they have nothing to lose.

The same could be said for the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (10-2), but there is something for them to aim for with a victory here- the Chanticleers could make it back to back seasons with eleven wins if they were to win, while it would also be the first time Coastal Carolina have won a Bowl Game.

Coastal Carolina have to be encouraged by the way they have been able to run the ball all season and the Offensive Line have to be given a lot of credit for that. That is underlined by the fact that the Chanticleers have a number of players that have been able to rush the ball for at least 500 yards this season and I fully expect Coastal Carolina to have considerable success on the ground in this one too.

It has been a weakness for the Huskies Defensive Line to stop the run and I think that will see the Chanticleers move the ball with success for much of this game. Running the ball also opens the game up for Grayson McCall at Quarter Back and it should mean he is afforded a little more time despite the fact that the Carolina Coastal Offensive Line have not been the best in pass protection and especially not compared with the level produced in run blocking.

If Grayson McCall is in front of the chains, he should be able to make some big throws against the Northern Illinois Secondary and the Chanticleers will be feeling good about their Offensive power in this Bowl Game.

This feels like a game in which you can trust the Chanticleers to find solid balance Offensively, but the same cannot be said for Northern Illinois despite the team coming in off the high of beating the Kent State Golden Flashes in the MAC Championship Game. The Huskies are very much a run first team, but there is no guarantee that a strong Offensive Line can get the better of the Chanticleers Defensive Line, which has proven to be stout against the run.

As impressive as Coastal Carolina have been on the Defensive Line, you do have to feel the Huskies will have some successes. Some is not going to be good enough to snap their run of Bowl defeats though and I am not convinced that Rocky Lombardi can have the successes at Quarter Back to move the chains with the consistency of the Chanticleers on the other side of the ball.

Rocky Lombardi should be given some protection, but he has thrown 13 Touchdown passes with 8 Interceptions and any mistakes are going to give the Chanticleers the extra possessions to move away from Northern Illinois.

The Huskies will be trying to climb down off the emotional high of winning a Championship, and they have failed to cover in their last six Bowl Games, while they are also just 2-8 against the spread in their last ten games when set as the underdog on a neutral field.

Coastal Carolina have not been a very good favourite to back, but the sharp money looks to be on them in this Bowl Game and I think they can be asked to lay the points as the Seniors sign off with their place in history secured.

MY PICKS: Toledo Rockets - 10.5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers - 11 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

Appalachian State Mountaineers - 2.5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

BYU Cougars - 6.5 Points @ 1.91 Coral (1 Unit)

Utah State Aggies + 7 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

NFL Week 15 Picks 2021 (December 16-20)

It hasn't been the case very often over the years, but we have concluded Week 14 of the NFL season and have yet to determine even one of the PlayOff teams that will take part in the expanded post-season beginning next month.

With only one team receiving a Bye to the Divisional Round of the PlayOffs in either Conference, I think games are going to matter to all right down to the wire and there are some huge games coming up in Week 15.

Covid issues are playing havoc with this sport as much as any other around North America and Europe and that means there could be huge swings in the spreads for all of the games coming up and will likely mean the best plan is to try and wait until late as possible before making your selections. I will be posting my Picks below, but it is something to consider going forward with the new Covid variant that is likely to rip through and cause havoc for players as much as it will for all of us.

Kansas City Chiefs @ Los Angeles Chargers Pick: Covid issues are ramping up in the United States as much as anywhere in the world and it is having an affect on the sports being played. While the NBA is still very much in the early stages of their season, the pandemic is likely to have a real impact on the NFL with none of the PlayOff places locked up despite the fact we are heading into Week 15 of the 2021 season.

This is just the third time in over forty years that we have yet to see PlayOff berths confirmed for any team in the League at the end of Week 14, but things are soon going to be clearing up. Teams are hoping that they can avoid Covid and other injuries to position themselves for the post-season and this is a huge game on Thursday Night Football when two leading AFC West teams meet one another.

The Kansas City Chiefs (9-4) have won six in a row to move to the top of the Division, but they are only a game clear of the Los Angeles Chargers (8-5) who have won the first of the two meetings between the teams. That means a win for the Chargers on Thursday will give them the inside track when it comes to winning this Division, although both teams are playing well enough to believe they can finish in the top seven in the AFC and be involved in the post-season.

In fact, at this stage I think the Chiefs and Chargers will both be targeting the Number 1 Seed and earning a Bye in the Wild Card Round of the expanded PlayOffs. That adds to the importance of this game and I think it is going to be a very close one.

Both teams are going to be missing key personnel on Thursday with players added to the Covid-19 list and injuries also having an impact in Week 15 of the season.

Offensive Line issues have reared up for the Los Angeles Chargers at a bad time of the season and it has left Justin Herbert exposed behind the backups that have come in. Rashawn Slater is the latest Offensive Lineman expected to miss out and that is a big blow for the Chargers who are already down a couple of players on this Line.

There is still a chance that Slater will suit up, while the Kansas City Chiefs could be without a key player on the other side of the ball with Chris Jones on the Covid-19 list too and another who will have his status cleared up before the game is scheduled to be played. It could be a key with Jones sparking the Kansas City pass rush that has helped the Chiefs pick up their level of performance on the Defensive side of the ball, the unit that has effectively been the reason they have been able to win six in a row.

I still expect the Chiefs to generate pressure on Justin Herbert whenever he is in obvious passing situations, but Los Angeles can counter with Austin Ekeler, who is expected to suit up. The Running Back will find some room behind this makeshift Offensive Line, but it is his ability to leak out of the backfield and offer a safety blanket for Herbert where Austin Ekeler can be most dangerous.

Staying in front of the chains will open up the play-book for the Los Angeles Chargers and the return of Keenan Allen means they should be able to make some big plays down the field. The Chiefs Secondary have played well thanks to the pressure the Defensive Line will get on Quarter Backs up front, but I think Justin Herbert has shown he can expose the Kansas City Defensive unit in the earlier win this season.

He was helped by the fact that the Chargers won the turnover battle by a convincing margin in the first meeting, but you have to believe Kansas City will be more careful this time. Patrick Mahomes is still trying to find his best form, but, like the Chargers, he can lean on the Running Backs to pound the ball on the ground and at least offer him more time to make his throws down the field.

The Chiefs Offensive Line have sometimes struggled in pass protection and the Los Angeles Chargers have a fierce pass rush of their own, one that will feel they can get to Patrick Mahomes if he is having to hold onto the ball in third and long spots. The Quarter Back can scramble away from some of the pressure and Mahomes is a dangerous thrower on the run, but the Chargers Secondary have played well and I think they can make some plays to slow down the visiting Divisional rivals.

Los Angeles have won on their last two visits to Arrowhead Stadium, but they have lost seven home games in succession to the Kansas City Chiefs.

However, the Chargers pushed the Chiefs all the way in a narrow home loss in Overtime in 2020 and I do think they are an improved team now. The Chargers are 5-1 against the spread in their last six against Divisional rivals, while they are 4-1 against the spread in their last five as the underdog.

Andy Reid has had considerable success against Divisional rivals since arriving as Head Coach of the Kansas City Chiefs and I will admit I hate opposing Patrick Mahomes, but I think the Chargers can keep this one competitive. They look to match up pretty well with Kansas City and I think the potential absence of Chris Jones would be a massive blow for the Chiefs.

Los Angeles can struggle for consistency, but I think they are worth backing with the points.

New England Patriots @ Indianapolis Colts Pick: The NFL is beginning to be hugely impacted by Covid-19 issues and it has meant that Week 15 has seen the scheduled moved around at the last minute. Instead of two games on Saturday, there are games scheduled to be played from Saturday through Tuesday in Week 15 as we head towards the PlayOffs and with games beginning to take on incredible importance.

There is a surviving game on Saturday and that comes from Indianapolis as the Colts (7-6) continue to chase a Wild Card berth in the PlayOffs. The AFC South looks to be beyond them with four games left as they are two behind the Tennessee Titans, who have swept the Divisional series between the teams, but the Colts are firmly in the mix when it comes to taking one of the three Wild Card spots that are available in the Conference this season.

The Colts will be hosting the New England Patriots (9-4) who are almost certainly going to be playing post-season Football having missed out last season in the first without Tom Brady. In fact this has been an even more special season for the Patriots and there is every chance that they can finish with the Number 1 Seed in the Conference, although the next two weeks may tell us all we need to know as they face the Buffalo Bills after the visit to Indianapolis.

On Thursday night the Kansas City Chiefs became the first team in the AFC to reach ten wins for the season, but the Patriots will feel they can do the same even as the slight underdog. They are coming in off a Bye Week and you know Bill Belichick will have had the team well prepared for the game, and the Patriots have looked really good on both sides of the ball with rookie Quarter Back Mac Jones perhaps the best to come out of the last Draft class, at least in 2021.

Both of these teams will be confident in their Offensive Line and will be looking for them to lead the way in the game, although New England will be without Damien Harris for this one. Even then, the Patriots have shown they can keep the ball pounding on the ground and I do think they will have success against the Colts considering what we have seen from the Indianapolis Defensive Line prior to them heading into their own Bye Week.

There is an outside chance that Harris will suit up, but Rhamondre Stevenson has shown his own capabilities with the ball in his hand and I do think the Patriots will be able to move the chains on the ground. That should make things a little easier for Mac Jones, who will be asked to throw the ball having only attempted three passes in the win over the Buffalo Bills in the Week 13 snowstorm.

Being able to run the ball against the Colts means teams have perhaps not tested the Secondary as much as they would do usually, but Indianapolis do have strength in the back end of their Defensive unit. They can win their battles if Mac Jones is left in obvious passing situations, although I do think New England will have successes with the ball in hand.

The Patriots may be able to perform well even without their lead Running Back, but the Indianapolis Colts will go as far as Jonathan Taylor can carry them. This has been a special season for Taylor already, but the Running Back has also given plenty of credit to the Colts Offensive Line and the weakness of the New England Defensive unit has been on the Line and stopping the run with any consistency.

This should be music to the ears of the Indianapolis Colts and Jonathan Taylor can have a very big outing as he pounds the rock on the ground. He has also shown a real ability to break out of the backfield and make sure he catches the ball in space an I think Taylor will be able to have a big game for the Indianapolis Colts as they look to produce a statement win.

Carson Wentz should have some time behind this Offensive Line, but he has been inconsistent as a passer this season and has been guilty of some terrible mistakes that have proved costly. Like the Colts, the New England Patriots are very happy with the performance level of the Secondary and they have been tough to throw the ball against, but Carson Wentz will be looking to get the ball out of his hands into his skill players hands as soon as possible and the Colts could have more success than the Patriots are used to giving up.

The Patriots have dominated recent meetings against the Indianapolis Colts, although those were before Tom Brady departed and since Peyton Manning left the Colts.

New England have been money at the window this season too and I do think they are a dangerous underdog, but Frank Reich has been known for preparing the Indianapolis Colts very well out of a Bye Week. The home team can match up with the Patriots and I think Jonathan Taylor can do enough to give them the edge.

It will be close and I would not be surprised if there are long drives in this one with both teams looking to pound the ball on the ground and put their Quarter Backs in strong positions to try and take advantage of spaces in the Secondary. Mac Jones has really played well, while Carson Wentz can be guilty of throwing an errant pass at bad times, but my feeling is that this game means more to Indianapolis and they can use their powerful Offensive Line to pave the way for a narrow win.

Las Vegas Raiders @ Cleveland Browns Pick: The top of the AFC is tightly packed together, but we are in Week 15 and there is little room for error. A game that was supposed to be played on Saturday has been moved to Monday afternoon thanks to a Covid outbreak in the Cleveland Browns (7-6) locker room.

With many players vaccinated that have tested, Cleveland were given an opportunity to move this game a couple of days in the hope that some key players are able to return. At this time they will be going in with their third string Quarter Back, Nick Mullens, but Baker Mayfield has hinted that he feels fine and is hoping he will be able to suit up.

Up to 20 players are on the Covid list, but at least the majority of the Offensive Line and Nick Chubb are available for Cleveland. That will give them a chance to play the game in the way they would have wanted, even at full strength, and I think the Browns will believe they can move the chains.

Cleveland are facing the Las Vegas Raiders (6-7) who have not been playing well in recent weeks and are now in a desperate position as they look to get back on track. Another loss on Monday will likely mean the PlayOffs are beyond them, but the Raiders will be firmly in the mix with a victory and there was some frustration that this game has been rescheduled rather than forfeited.

The Raiders have at least shown some power on the Defensive Line in recent games, but in the main it has been an issue for them when it comes to stopping the run. That is going to be music to the ears of Nick Chubb and the Browns and it will certainly be important for them if they are going to give their backup Quarter Back an opportunity to win the game.

It feels like Las Vegas do match up pretty well with the Browns on this side of the ball- if they can slow them down up front, Cleveland don't really have the consistency in the passing game to feel they can expose some of the holes the Raiders have in the Secondary. Nick Mullens is capable of having some success, but Jarvis Landry looks set to miss out and that means the Browns are relying on Receivers that have been nothing less than inconsistent.

Cleveland have struggled Offensively since their blowout win over the Cincinnati Bengals in early November and that has to be a worry for a team that could be down a number of players on this side of the ball. As bad as the recent results have been for the Raiders, they have been competitive Defensively and will give Derek Carr and the Offensive unit an opportunity for an upset on the road.

Earning that will not be easy as Derek Carr continues to flash his talent, but too many times has been guilty of some bad mistakes that has Raiders fans wondering if they need to move the Quarter Back on. Rumours are that he could be traded at the end of the season in what could be a fast moving Quarter Back situation for many teams around the League, but for now Derek Carr has to try and lead his team to the post-season again.

He will be wise to lean on Josh Jacobs at Running Back considering some of the issues the Cleveland Browns have had in stopping the run in recent games. Josh Jacobs is a very strong Running Back and has also shown he can be a threat catching the ball out of the backfield, while establishing him here and keeping the Raiders in front of the chains will be key to the outcome of the game.

Derek Carr will then be given the time to make his plays down the field, although he is still missing Darren Waller. The passing game has struggled without the top Tight End and ever since Henry Ruggs was released it has felt easier to defend the Raiders.

I do think the Browns will be able to do that too with their Secondary playing pretty well, but Jacobs can get Las Vegas moving on the ground and that should help them remain competitive in this game.

Las Vegas won here on the road last season and they are 5-2 against the spread in their last seven games as the road underdog. Cleveland are 1-4 against the spread in their last five as the home underdog too and I do think the Las Vegas Raiders can keep this one close with the points in their hand.

Minnesota Vikings @ Chicago Bears Pick: Only one team in the NFC has been officially eliminated from playing in the post-season, but the Chicago Bears (4-9) will need a festive miracle to move back into the top seven in the Conference. Another loss on Monday Night Football will almost certainly be the end for the Bears, but even winning out would mean finishing with a losing record and needing plenty of help to return to the PlayOffs.

It has been a difficult season for the Bears with injuries and inconsistencies a major problem for the team to deal with. Matt Nagy was almost fired during the season, if reports are to be believed anyway, but the Head Coach is certainly on the hot seat and I would be very surprised if he is still in that position on January 11th 2022.

The Bears might not be in contention to make the post-season with any reality, but they can play spoiler for others and facing a Divisional rival should mean plenty of motivation for the home team. The fans will be here in big numbers in Chicago as they host the Minnesota Vikings (6-7) who snapped a two game losing run by holding onto a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 14 and who are now half a game behind the top seven places in the Conference.

They will be playing the Chicago Bears twice before the end of the regular season, but Minnesota have to really win both of those games with tougher games against the Los Angeles Rams and Green Bay Packers to also negotiate.

Covid issues are plaguing teams around the NFL and that is the case for both the Bears and the Vikings, although it feels like it is a bigger problem for Chicago considering the injuries that have also decimated their team.

The Bears are also coming in off a big, emotional effort against the Green Bay Packers and you do have to wonder if that was their last hurrah in what has been a very difficult season. David Montgomery looks like he could be missing for the Bears, but I still think they will have some success moving the ball on the ground against the Minnesota Vikings, especially with Justin Fields set to play again at Quarter Back.

Justin Fields made some big time throws in the loss to the Packers in Week 14 and he will be encouraged to pick up from where he left off. If the Bears can establish the run, it will mean the Vikings pass rush is perhaps not able to make the big impact on the game as they can whenever Fields is in obvious passing situations.

There are some issues in the Minnesota Secondary that could see Justin Fields make some big plays again, but the Offensive Line has been an issue all season and it is very important for the Chicago Bears to stay in this game and not have to move away from the run.

Running the ball will be the main priority for the Minnesota Vikings too and I think Dalvin Cook will have another big outing having sparked the win over the Steelers. The Bears have had their Defensive Line hit by injuries and the Vikings Offensive Line will believe they can bully their opponents up front and that should see Cook come away with another big game.

It also eases the pressure on Kirk Cousins, who is quietly having a strong season at Quarter Back, while opening up play-action and seeing him able to hit the Receivers down the field. The Bears have not been able to generate much of a pass rush with the injuries on the Defensive Line so Kirk Cousins should have plenty of time to make his throws, while the Bears Secondary can only hold onto to their Receivers for so long.

This is a really big spread, but the Minnesota Vikings look to be the right side to back.

I expect them to have an Offensive balance that may be missing for the Chicago Bears, while Kirk Cousins should be a little more consistent than Justin Fields.

The Vikings have been a terrible team to back at the window, but the Bears are 1-6 against the spread in their last seven as the underdog. Chicago have not been competitive off of blow out losses either and I think that will show up here with the Vikings moving back to 0.500 and keeping their PlayOff hopes alive at the expense of a Divisional rival that will likely be making some big changes in the off-season.

Seattle Seahawks @ Los Angeles Rams Pick: Three teams from the NFC West are in with a realistic chance of making the PlayOff, but the outsiders are the Seattle Seahawks (5-8) who are running out of time to turn this season around. Injuries have really impacted the Seahawks and they have to win out and hope for some help from other teams if they are going to finish in the top seven.

They head to Los Angeles to take on the Rams (9-4) who will be looking to overtake the slumping Arizona Cardinals and take over as the leaders of the Division, which will offer at least one home game in the PlayOff. Even now, the Rams may feel they can chase down the Green Bay Packers who lead the Conference with eleven wins and this is a pivotal game for both teams involved.

And that makes the Covid issues that have impacted both teams even more troublesome- the game was supposed to be played on Sunday, but the extra time has been granted by the NFL to ensure both teams can be as healthy as possible. If the game had been played on Sunday, the Los Angeles Rams would have been down multiple players, but things have changed as we reach Tuesday and now it is the Seahawks are likely to be facing more of an impact from the positive tests running through the roster.

Some fans will be upset and that goes beyond the fanbases of both teams considering the impact on the post-season this game has the potential to have. However, the NFL is trying to do the best for all and without having games cancelled and so the situation is what it is.

This has not been a good match up for Seattle in recent seasons when at their strongest and I do think they are going to need to have a huge performance to even be competitive. Tyler Lockett looks like he could miss out and that is going to give Russell Wilson a major problem moving the ball with any consistency.

The Seahawks are unlikely to be able to run the ball very well against this Rams Defensive Line and they are without their top Running Back, Alex Collins, anyway. Even with Collins, the Los Angeles Rams pride themselves on making teams one-dimensional against them and leaving the Seahawks in third and long spots only exposes a vulnerable Offensive Line with the quality pass rush the Rams will bring to the field.

Teams have been able to have some success when throwing into the Rams Secondary, but Jalen Ramsey is expected to suit up and the Seahawks potentially missing Tyler Lockett should make them 'easier' to deal with. DK Metcalf has been a little banged up, although I don't want to disrespect the ability Russell Wilson has to make plays.

Even then, the Los Angeles Rams will feel their Defensive unit can do enough to slow down the Seattle Seahawks and their own Offense will feel they can move the ball. Matthew Stafford has been having a strong season and has bounced back from a slump as he has led the Rams to back to back wins, and the Rams will go as far as the Quarter Back can take them.

It has not been a season where they have had a lot of success running the ball and the Los Angeles Rams will not find much room up front from an improving Seattle Defensive Line. However, I do think Sean McVay is able to scheme a different way to run the ball with little screens and quick passes able to put the team in front of the chains, while Matthew Stafford should be able to expose the Seattle Secondary which has had its issues all season.

A stuttering pass rush should mean Matthew Stafford has time in the pocket and Odell Beckham Jr is set to suit up having had a negative Covid test in the time between the original schedule time of this game and the Tuesday kick off.

The Rams are 7-3 against the Seattle Seahawks since Sean McVay took over as Head Coach and they dominated the Seahawks on the road earlier this season. I think they will be able to make the plays to pull away in this one too and they will be back on track to win the NFC West.

Russell Wilson is one of the best Quarter Backs in the NFL and he has a very strong record as an underdog, but this is not a great match up for him. That should show up here with a healthier looking Rams roster capable of winning this one by a Touchdown or more on the night.

Washington Football Team @ Philadelphia Eagles Pick: The NFL landscape has always been one that can change very quickly, but the new Covid variant is one that has hit teams very hard, very quickly. The Washington Football Team (6-7) have been given a couple of extra days to try and get through the outbreak which has decimated the roster, but I am not sure that is enough time for the team to be ready to compete.

In Week 13 the Washington Football Team entered a game with the Dallas Cowboys having won four in a row and looking like they may still have an impact on the NFC East race, but a loss meant the Wild Card positions were their best bet to reach the PlayOff. That is still the case in Week 15, but the Football Team will be feeling the pressure with the top eight teams in the Conference all holding at least seven wins and a loss on Tuesday would put the Football Team behind yet another team.

The Philadelphia Eagles (6-7) do not have the same issues as the Washington Football Team, but the extra time may have benefited them with the likelihood that Jalen Hurts will be able to return at Quarter Back. There are still some questions about Hurts and his ability to be a starting Quarter Back in the NFL, but this should be a good place to return when you think of the huge amount of starters the Washington Football Team are set to be without.

Running the ball efficiently has sparked the Eagles season and the feeling is that they will be able to do that here considering the players missing on the Washington Defensive Line. Jalen Hurts is well backed up by the Running Backs on the Eagles roster and this is a key for Philadelphia to ensure there is not too much pressure on their Quarter Back to have to make plays on his own.

The passing game has been inconsistent to say the least, but again you have to point out the favourable match up that is likely going to be in front of the Eagles.

Moving the ball on the Offensive side is going to be another challenge for the Washington Football Team who have both Taylor Heinicke and Kyle Allen on the Covid list. It is still a mystery as to the availability of either and that could mean the Football Team going in with a third string Quarter Back who could be without the likes of Logan Thomas and Terry McLaurin.

Garrett Gilbert may be given the chance having at least played in the NFL before, but it is a huge ask of a backup playing in a tough environment like this one. The match up may have been easier if facing a Defensive Line that struggles to stop the run, but that is not the case against the Philadelphia Eagles and Gilbert may be asked to try and dink and dunk his way down the field.

He should be given some protection, although the Offensive Line could be down starters too, but Gilbert will be throwing into a Secondary that is capable of making plays.

Turnovers feel like they could play an important part in this game and that is where the Eagles may have the edge over the Football Team.

Philadelphia are 6-2 against the spread in their last eight in the series with this Divisional rival, and these teams are going to be meeting twice before the regular season is completed.

Ron Rivera does guide the Football Team well when they are an underdog, but the Bye Week might have been a struggle and Washington are 1-4 against the spread in their last five with rest behind them.

The Eagles are another who have struggled out of a Bye Week, but they are 4-1 against the spread in their last five as the favourite and I think they can take advantage of the injury hit Divisional rival as they move ahead of the Football Team in the race for a Wild Card spot in the NFC.

MY PICKS: Los Angeles Chargers + 3.5 Points @ 1.91 Coral (2 Units)

Indianapolis Colts - 2.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (2 Units)

Arizona Cardinals - 13 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (2 Units)

Jacksonville Jaguars - 6.5 Points @ 2.00 Bet365 (2 Units)

Pittsburgh Steelers - 1 Point @ 1.95 Bet365 (2 Units)

Cincinnati Bengals + 3 Points @ 1.91 Sky Bet (2 Units)

New Orleans Saints + 11.5 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Las Vegas Raiders + 3 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (2 Units)

Minnesota Vikings - 6.5 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Los Angeles Rams - 6.5 Points @ 1.91 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Philadelphia Eagles - 6.5 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Week 14: 6-2, + 7 Units (16 Units Staked, + 43.75% Yield)

Week 13: 2-1, + 1.64 Units (6 Units Staked, + 27.33% Yield)

Week 12: 5-6, - 2.74 Units (22 Units Staked, - 12.45% Yield)

Week 11: 0-6, - 12 Units (12 Units Staked, - 100% Yield)

Week 10: 5-5, - 0.88 Units (20 Units Staked, - 4.40% Yield)

Week 9: 2-5, - 6.28 Units (14 Units Staked, - 44.86% Yield)

Week 8: 1-6, - 10.18 Units (14 Units Staked, - 72.71% Yield)

Week 7: 2-1, + 1.64 Units (6 Units Staked, + 27.33% Yield)

Week 6: 3-4, - 2.64 Units (14 Units Staked, - 18.86% Yield)

Week 5: 4-2-1, + 3.28 Units (14 Units Staked, + 23.43% Yield)

Week 4: 7-3, + 6.46 Units (20 Units Staked, + 32.30% Yield)

Week 3: 7-3, + 6.68 Units (20 Units Staked, + 33.40% Yield)

Week 2: 6-5, + 0.98 Units (22 Units Staked, + 4.45% Yield)

Week 1: 3-6, - 6.46 Units (18 Units Staked, - 35.89% Yield)

Season 2021: 53-55-1, - 13.50 Units (218 Units Staked, - 6.19% Yield)

Midweek Football and Fantasy Football GameWeek 17 Picks 2021 (December 14-16)

Another round of Midweek Premier League matches have been scheduled, but the new variant of the Coronavirus is beginning to affect all walks of life.

Footballers are no different and that means the Brentford vs Manchester United game scheduled for GameWeek 17 has been postponed.

Brighton, Norwich City, Aston Villa, Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur are all dealing with issues of their own, but the Manchester United game looks to be the only one that will be postponed.

Obviously health concerns are the most important factor, but it is also means difficulties for those playing the Fantasy Premier League game and more on that below.

Norwich City v Aston Villa Pick: Covid-19 issues are likely going to impact everybody and Premier League footballers are no different.

It does make it a little more difficult to make predictions when a sudden outbreak can impact the line up of teams up and down the country and both Norwich City and Aston Villa have had issues ahead of this fixture.

At the time of writing, this fixture looks like it will be played and it is an important one for both Norwich City and Aston Villa after going down to battling 1-0 defeats to top five opponents on Saturday.

Dean Smith's presence on the sidelines will add to the intrigue having managed Aston Villa a little over a month ago before being Sacked and taking up the position at Norwich City. He has made an impact with Norwich City, but the problems that Daniel Farke failed to resolve remain and that is namely a lack of clinical finishing in the final third.

Norwich City missed some big chances against Manchester United, but they will be at least pleased to see the football that is being played. The defensive issues is something that will make it more important to find an avenue to scoring goals consistently, but Norwich City should be able to create chances against Aston Villa.

At the same time, Steven Gerrard's team looks to be getting healthier, not withstanding the players that have had positive Covid tests, and they will feel this is a much more winnable fixture than the defeats suffered against Manchester City and Liverpool. However, I do think Aston Villa are still a work in progress when it comes to their attacking play under a new manager and that should give the home team a chance to earn a vital result.

Dean Smith should know the ins and outs about the Aston Villa squad that helps Norwich City here and I do think they will be able to have the attacking threat to expose any vulnerabilities the former Villa manager knows about. That may be enough for Norwich City to earn a good result and I think they can be backed on the Asian Handicap to do that.

Manchester City v Leeds United Pick: After taking the lead and then seemingly securing a late point, Leeds United have to pick themselves up following the 3-2 defeat at Chelsea on Saturday. An injury hit squad put in a huge effort into that game and Leeds United have continued to be competitive without key players involved, but this is a tough ask of them with so many missing on a short week.

Just days after losing at Stamford Bridge, Leeds United will be travelling to Manchester to take on the Premier League leaders and it will be difficult for the players to maintain the intensity that may be needed.

After putting in a huge effort and coming up short, you have to feel the stretched squad may struggle to stay with Manchester City here. The home team can make more changes to the starting eleven and have a relatively healthy squad, while they have had a few more hours to prepare for the fixture.

Manchester City narrowly beat Wolves here on Saturday, but they created the chances and could have won by a wider margin on another day. Once again they gave up very little defensively and I think they will be able to hold Leeds United at arm's length in this one too.

With the likes of Phil Foden, Kyle Walker, Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez expected to come in and freshen up the starting eleven, I think Manchester City will have too much for Leeds United. Pep Guardiola is unlikely to have forgotten the home loss to this opponent last season and I think Manchester City will secure another victory with a clean sheet as they look to keep the pressure on their title rivals.

Brighton v Wolves Pick: Covid issues are likely going to have a big impact on fixtures around European Football during the winter of 2021 and the Premier League has seen a rise in cases over the last week.

One of the clubs feeling it is Brighton, but this fixture is set to be played on Wednesday despite that. A growing injury list coupled with the Covid cases means Brighton have a squad that is being stretched as they bid to end a run of 11 games without a victory.

The fans have been a little impatient in recent games, although some would say they are being arrogant considering the football Brighton have been playing. Graham Potter certainly hasn't been pleased by some of the jeers he has heard, but his team continue to look decent going forward and they are a team that will create chances.

The question mark is always around whether they can put a finishing touch to the football they are producing and it is the main reason they have not been able to turn a few draws into victories. Brighton should be well rested for this fixture though and they should be well prepared, even though there are issues in the camp, and it may give them a chance to get back to winning ways.

Brighton will also benefit from having had a weekend off at the same time as Wolves were working hard to try and earn a result at Manchester City. Playing the entire second half with ten men will have sapped some energy of a small squad being used by Bruno Lage and Wolves are another team that play good, eye-pleasing football, but who have struggled to put an end product to that football.

They have scored just 12 League goals this season and none in their last 4 so the absence of Raul Jimenez is a bitter blow for Wolves. The Mexican striker was a little foolish to get himself sent off at Manchester City and making up for his absence will not be easy.

Games between these two teams have been surprisingly entertaining in terms of goals in the last couple of seasons despite the obvious issues both Brighton and Wolves have in the final third. However, I think Wolves have looked organised at the back and I am not sure they can make up for the absence of Raul Jimenez, while Brighton are down to the bare bones in the squad.

It could mean we return to what we should expect from these two teams- that is good football, but with a struggling end product and I think one of the teams will fail to hit the back of the net.

Burnley v Watford Pick: Claudio Ranieri has spoken about Watford's season starting now after steering his team through a difficult fixture list, but he has to be very frustrated with the points dropped at Brentford on Friday night in the Premier League. He will be looking for a big reaction against a relegation rival on Wednesday evening, but there has to be some encouragement by the kind of level Watford have produced in recent weeks even if the results have not been the best.

A win for Watford will see them earn some breathing space to the bottom three, but they are facing a Burnley team who have only lost 1 of their last 7 Premier League games.

Like Watford, Burnley look to be in the midst of a relatively good schedule, but they were beaten at Newcastle United and that has left them mired in the bottom three. A point against West Ham United is a positive result, but Burnley will have to show improvement if they are going to take the points away from this fixture.

It has not been a good year for Burnley at Turf Moor and they have won 1 of their last 17 Premier League games here. That was earned recently against Brentford, but Burnley have struggled for the balance needed in the final third at both ends of the pitch.

While they scored six goals against Brentford and Crystal Palace, Burnley have failed to score in 3 of their last 5 here and they are a team that struggles to create quality chances. I expect Burnley to have more success against this Watford team that have not defended well, but The Hornets will also offer a sting in the final third.

Burnley have not defended as well as they would have liked and Watford should be able to offer a real threat on the counter attack. That will give the visitors a chance of earning something from the match and I do think they are an underdog that can produce a bite to back up the bark.

It could be a tough, competitive game, but Watford have goals in the side and I think the extra preparation time for the fixture may also be a key to the outcome of this one.

Crystal Palace v Southampton Pick: It would be harsh to discredit the kind of football that Southampton like to play under Ralph Hasenhuttl, but the lack of quality has held the club back. They are pleasing on the eye and Southampton can create chances, but losing Danny Ings has hurt and they have not been able to put the finishing touches on their football as the manager would have liked.

He may be facing more issues this week when Southampton travel to South London without Adam Armstrong, Che Adams and Armando Broja. All are doubtful and that means Southampton may be lacking a cutting edge even more than usual.

It comes at a bad time for Southampton as they get set to meet a Crystal Palace team who will be feeling very good about themselves after their 3-1 victory over Everton on Sunday. Patrick Vieira is really getting a tune out of his squad, but the results have not always backed that up and so the win on Sunday was vital for Crystal Palace having lost 3 Premier League games in a row prior to the fixture last time out.

I do have to say that Crystal Palace have been difficult to back considering the amount of leads they have blown and the fact that half of their home fixtures have ended in draws. However, they have won 2 of their last 3 at Selhurst Park and Crystal Palace have attacking players in form who will feel they can hurt a Southampton team that has begun to leak goals.

Patrick Vieira has been keeping his attacking players fresh with rotations and I think Crystal Palace can back up their win on Sunday. They should create chances and Southampton being without their top attacking players should only aid The Eagles even more.

Crystal Palace do tend to score plenty of goals here and have made it a habit of scoring first having done so in 3 of their last 4 at Selhurst Park. Doing so here should see Crystal Palace have enough to secure another three points and I think they can be backed to do that.

Arsenal v West Ham United Pick: This is the headline fixture on Wednesday evening in the Premier League and both Arsenal and West Ham United will be looking for the result that will see them end the night inside the top four.

Both earned clean sheets this past weekend, but Arsenal scored the goals to see off Southampton, while West Ham United had to settle for a goalless draw with Burnley. David Moyes was a little disappointed by the result and is demanding his players return to the kind of levels they have shown they can produce this season.

West Ham United have tended to reserve their better performances for the top teams they have faced, but those have largely been played at home. They were not really competitive in the defeat at Manchester City and so there are some questions to answer for a team that has been considered to be having a successful season to this point.

If they have a genuine ambition to reach the Champions League for next season, The Hammers have to show they can win big games away from home. In recent weeks they have hit the wall on their travels, especially in front of goal, but West Ham United are facing an Arsenal team that have been vulnerable against the best teams in the Premier League.

Defeats at Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United and another at home to Chelsea underline the point, but Arsenal have won 5 in a row at the Emirates Stadium. Many would consider Arsenal to be underachieving, but it says plenty that they could move above West Ham United with a victory and The Gunners will be looking for a seventh home success in a row against this London rival.

Arsenal have been dangerous going forward at home in recent weeks and they have largely been pretty solid defensively. That will be encouraging for Mikel Arteta, but West Ham United should offer a much more consistent threat compared with Watford, Newcastle United and Southampton.

Both Premier League fixtures between these clubs ended with three or more goals last season and I do think that could be the outcome of this one. Arsenal will attack and that will leave spaces for West Ham United on the counter attack, but I also think the home team will create chances against this opponent who have defensive injuries to deal with.

An early goal could really get this fixture going and I think there will be at least three goals shared out.

Leicester City v Tottenham Hotspur Pick: At the time of writing, this Premier League fixture is trending towards being given the go-ahead rather than being postponed despite the Covid issues that both Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City are dealing with.

Leicester City have been able to battle through their issues, but Tottenham Hotspur are hoping to return after seeing two matches postponed/cancelled.

They are still going to be short of a number of players who will be in self-isolation and there have been reports that another first team player has been handed a positive test, but Tottenham Hotspur are back on the training ground and expected to head to the Midlands for the fixture.

Brendan Rodgers will not be feeling too sorry for Tottenham Hotspur considering the amount of players he will be missing, but Leicester City did have a confidence boosting win over Newcastle United last time out.

Since losing to Chelsea here, Leicester City have been finding plenty of attacking joy with 3 wins in a row at the King Power Stadium and scoring at least three goals in each win. I think despite the issues in the home camp, Leicester City will be better prepared than Tottenham Hotspur for this Premier League game and it should mean the home team are able to get the better of the London club.

It will be close and Tottenham Hotspur have been good under Antonio Conte, but Leicester City have momentum from the win on Sunday and I think they can back that up.

Chelsea v Everton Pick: Injury issues and a loss of form have been hurting both Chelsea and Everton in recent weeks, although the quality of the Chelsea squad has helped them produce some big wins through sheer effort.

The 3-2 win over Leeds United will have really bolstered the confidence of the Chelsea group, but Thomas Tuchel will be looking for much better defensively. Individual mistakes continue to be costly for Chelsea, but they could soon have their full choice of midfield options which should make Chelsea tougher to play against.

It won't be the case in time for this game, but Chelsea could be facing Everton at the right time considering the struggles of the visitors. They lost for the fourth away game in a row at Crystal Palace on Sunday and Everton have lost more key players, which leaves them incredibly vulnerable here.

Rafael Benitez won't get much respite from the away fans if Everton start poorly, but the Chelsea fans won't be offering any sympathy. Even as a former manager here, Benitez and the Chelsea faithful did not really see eye to eye and they will relish putting him under pressure.

As porous as Chelsea have been defensively of late, they have been scoring plenty of goals and I do think they can hurt this Everton team. Thomas Tuchel would love to see his team produce more in open play having been a big threat from set pieces, but they should have more joy against a struggling Everton team.

Everton will try and counter against a vulnerable Chelsea defence, but I think it will be difficult for them without the quality of Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The fixture list gets a little easier after this game, but Everton may have to suffer another tough night in London before heading into those matches and I think Chelsea can win by a comfortable margin.

Liverpool v Newcastle United Pick: There have been some classic Premier League matches between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Anfield, but it feels like a stretch to think this may be one of those.

A huge gulf exists between the clubs at this moment and Liverpool have been attacking with a real threat. They may not have been rewarded with the goals, but on their current pace you would expect someone could take a real thumping from them.

Newcastle United may be the poor victim.

They were poor at the King Power Stadium on Sunday and Eddie Howe has proven to be a manager that will not want Newcastle United to sit back. It is a real problem against Liverpool, but even defending deep may not be good enough with the issues the visitors have had at the back all season.

Liverpool have had 1-0 wins in back to back Premier League games, but Newcastle United have been well beaten at Arsenal and Leicester City. The team they are facing this week are a lot stronger than those two and I think Liverpool will have far too much for Newcastle United who are trying to scratch and claw their way out of the bottom three.

An early goal for Liverpool would really spell trouble for Newcastle United and I do think this is going to be a game that is comfortably won at the end of the evening. Liverpool have created enough chances in their last two Premier League games to have won those by much wider margins and I think they can punish a Newcastle United team that have struggled to keep teams from getting on top of them.

MY PICKS: Norwich City + 0.25 Asian Handicap

Manchester City Win to Nil

Brighton-Wolves Both Teams to Score- NO

Watford + 0.25 Asian Handicap

Crystal Palace - 0.25 Asian Handicap

Arsenal-West Ham United Over 2.5 Goals

Leicester City - 0.25 Asian Handicap

Chelsea - 1.5 Asian Handicap

Liverpool - 2.5 Asian Handicap

Fantasy Football GameWeek 17

Covid issues were always going to be a problem in the FPL game this season, but it has been a frustrating time for my team.

I selected Tottenham Hotspur players who have had one game postponed thanks to snow and another because of a Covid outbreak.

Of course I replaced them with two Manchester United players, but again I have been hit with a postponement, while I have too many players who are not getting the minutes I would have liked them to.

Andreas Christensen looks out of favour, but the Christian Benteke rotation has really been a frustration- he scored twice at Burnley, but I brought him into my team following that outing and his minutes have been managed since.

Leaving 22 points on the bench in GW16 summed it up after Benteke, Christensen and Diogo Jota all managed to be used as subs and earned my a combined 3 points.

Making decisions is difficult with a Covid outbreak seemingly impacting a number of clubs and we simply don't know which players have been affected and which have not. That makes it more challenging and there are going to be tough moments through the next two months before the booster shots and the improving weather begins to turn the tide on the new variant.

At the time of writing I am going to have ten players that are expected to play after Joao Cancelo was booked and will serve a suspension. I don't think this is the time to take a hit, but it is a good opportunity to move out Bryan Mbeumo as Brentford hit a more difficult portion of their schedule.

He can be brought back when the DGW is announced, if I want him back, but I am going to keep my powder dry other than that move.

The bigger question is who is best to target and I think my final decision will come down to a Manchester City midfield asset or a West Ham United one. Manchester City have the easier game in GW17, but Pep Roulette is a miserable game to play and one I have been happy to avoid for much of the season.

West Ham United have a more difficult game, but fixtures ease after the game at Arsenal, although any final decision on a transfer doesn't mean much with a fluid virus ripping through the nation.

Changes need to be made to my team, but I am going to use the week between GW18 and GW19 to really get a better feel as to the direction I want to take.

NFL Week 14 Picks 2021 (December 9-13)

The Week 14 of the NFL season begins a run of pivotal games with the PlayOff places shaking up over the next month.

All of the teams chasing top seven places should be motivated to play hard right through to Week 17 with the new PlayOff format seeing only one team earning a Bye through to the Divisional Round of the post-season. Every game matters from here and there are some big games to come through this Week of the regular season.

Dallas Cowboys @ Washington Football Team Pick: With the way things are shaping up in the NFC, the feeling is that eight wins will be enough for a team to make their way into the Wild Card Round of the NFL PlayOffs in January. That will mean a losing record could potentially be good enough good, and that may at least have some Dallas Cowboys (8-4) fans feeling a little more comfortable when it comes to playing post-season Football in 2021.

However, the Cowboys laid the platform for much more earlier this season and they are coming out of a rough patch with key players returning on both sides of the ball. Winning the Division is still an important task for teams as it will mean at least one home PlayOff game, while a strong end to this season may still be good enough to secure the very important Number 1 Seed.

That has to keep the motivation going for Dallas, who trail Arizona by two games with five to play, while the Cowboys also have to remain focused considering the improvements seen by a couple of NFC East rivals. The closest challenger is the Washington Football Team (6-6) who have won four in a row and who, in recent seasons at least, have played some very good Football when entering December.

Just two games separate these NFC East rivals and the Cowboys and Football Team are meeting twice in the next three weeks. The first of those in Week 14 is going to be played in Washington, but it is the Cowboys who have been set as a pretty big favourite all things considered.

I do like Dallas here though with the Defensive Line having reinforcements in Week 14, although the likely absence of Tony Pollard is a bit of a blow to the team. As well as the Washington Defensive unit have played during their winning run, they are facing a Dallas team with plenty of Offensive firepower and a team that has had a few extra days to prepare for this game having played on Thursday Night Football in Week 13.

In the last two games, Washington have only needed to score 17 points to win games thanks to the performance of the Defense, but I do think the Dallas Cowboys can offer a different threat to Seattle and Las Vegas. Unlike those two teams, the Cowboys have a genuine balance on the Offensive side of the ball with Ezekiel Elliot capable of pounding the ball behind this Offensive Line and Dak Prescott a Quarter Back who is blessed with plenty of Receiving weapons.

Washington have played well, even with the injuries they have been dealing with, but that balance will test them in a different way. The Football Team have made big plays to change the momentum in games, but I think this is a very tough test for them against a Cowboys team that have had considerable success on this field in recent years.

You have to believe Dallas can score plenty more points than the Seahawks and Raiders and that means there is a pressure on Taylor Heinicke and the Washington Offense. 17 points might have been good enough to win a couple of games, but that is not likely to be the case here and Washington have not been helped by another injury suffered by Logan Thomas.

He is a key weapon for the Quarter Back, so the feeling is that the Football Team are going to rely on Antonio Gibson and look to pound the rock through the Running Back. In recent games the Cowboys Defensive Line have been vulnerable to the run, but the likes of Demarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory are back in Week 14 and I do think that can help, especially as the Football Team's Offensive Line have not opened big holes for their Backs.

Taylor Heinicke has largely avoided making mistakes and he has made some big throws at key times to keep drives moving, but he could be faced with some serious pressure with the Cowboys likely back to full strength up front. An aggressive Dallas Secondary will give up some big plays, but Heinicke has to be aware of the ball-hawking nature of the Defensive Backs and I think the Cowboys can show up and produce a win that will almost certainly wrap up the Division.

Washington do have some solid numbers against the spread that have to be respected, but the Dallas Cowboys have been really impressive at the window when it comes to playing teams from the NFC and when they are on the road. They are 5-1 against the spread in their last six road games and Dallas have covered in seven in a row against Conference rivals, while they also tend to play the NFC East rivals very effectively.

The underdog has had a really good job in this rivalry, but Dallas are 5-2 against the spread in seven visits to FedExField and I think they can cover here with a healthier looking team and with the additional time to prepare for the game.

Seattle Seahawks @ Houston Texans Pick: The injury that cost Russell Wilson several weeks may be the pivotal moment of the 2021 season for the Seattle Seahawks (4-8), but a win over the San Francisco 49ers in Week 13 has barely kept them alive as far as the PlayOffs are concerned. You have to believe that the Seahawks are going to have to win at least four of their remaining five games and then hope for some fortune, but they do have a chance to build on that victory over a Divisional rival.

A non-Conference game may not be the most important on the seventeen game schedule, but at this point of the season every game matters and it would be a devastating blow for the Seahawks if they were to lose here. They are facing the Houston Texans (2-10) who are clearly going to be thinking about their Draft position going forward and one that is reshaping the roster after cutting Zach Cunningham this week.

Zach Cunningham has been considered one of the better Defensive players the Texans had left on the roster, but there is a culture shift going on here and the season cannot really end quickly enough for Houston. It has been a difficult season and Head Coach David Culley has announced that Davis Mills will be the Quarter Back for the team.

It has been a really difficult year Offensively for the Texans, but they will want to play with more pride after being kept scoreless in the defeat to the Colts in Week 13. Davis Mills should be able to have more success against the Seahawks when you think of some of the Defensive breakdowns that Seattle have had, but Houston are not very good on this side of the ball and I certainly would not be overly expectant of their capabilities to score points.

Houston are not going to be expected to run the ball with any great success and especially not with the recent upturn in performance from the Seattle Defensive Line. That means Davis Mills being in third and long spots behind a struggling Offensive Line and even a limited pass rush like the one that the Seahawks are generating should be good enough to get after him.

While there are holes in the Seattle Secondary, Davis Mills has not really shown that he is capable of exposing them and certainly not on a consistent basis. He has to avoid mistakes to give his own Defensive unit a chance to step up and make plays, but Mills will have a tough day making the plays on his own with the limitations of the skill players around him as well as the Offensive Line.

The spot is an obvious concern for Seattle as is all the money the public are putting on the road favourite, but this is an important game for the Seahawks as they look to edge a little closer to the top seven in the NFC. They do have another Divisional game coming up in Week 15 to sandwich a non-Conference outing, but as I have mentioned above, Seattle can ill-afford more than one more loss if they are going to have a chance of playing post-season Football.

Russell Wilson has not really looked completely at ease with his injury since returning earlier than initially thought, but he has been improving and I think that will be the case again in Week 14. This time he is facing a Houston Defensive unit that have made sure they have not allowed their level to drop, but one that has been on the field for far too long and can be worn down.

Play-calling from the Seahawks has been a little questionable since Wilson returned and they would be well advised to actually use the Offensive Line in the way they enjoy the most- run blocking. The Texans have been horrible stopping the run all season and in recent games Seattle have made big gains on the ground before the pass protection has broken down or they have begun to chase games.

That should not be an excuse in Week 14 and I think Alex Collins can set the Seahawks up by pounding the ball on the ground and making sure Russell Wilson is not left exposed by the Offensive Line in third and long spots. Zach Cunningham is gone so you do have to wonder if the Houston pass rush will suffer somewhat, but they are capable of getting to the Quarter Back so being in front of the chains is massively important for Seattle.

I expect they can do that and it should open up the passing lanes for Russell Wilson who still has plenty of quality in the Receiving positions to have a big game. The Texans Secondary has actually played well in recent games and not given Quarter Backs big games, but that is also partly down to the fact that teams have been able to run on them all day long and it should be a relatively comfortable day for Seattle.

As I have mentioned, the spot is not ideal between games with San Francisco and the Los Angeles Rams, but Houston have been largely uncompetitive of late and Seattle did blow out the Jacksonville Jaguars, albeit at home.

Seattle have some terrible trends as a road favourite and when playing off a win, but Houston are 0-4 against the spread in their last four following a double digit loss at home. They are also 2-5 against the spread in their last seven when losing in blow out fashion as they did to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 13 and I think Seattle can do enough to win this one going away from their hosts.

Las Vegas Raiders @ Kansas City Chiefs Pick: There were plenty of questions being asked of the Kansas City Chiefs (8-4) a few weeks ago, but five straight wins have seen them surge to the top of the AFC West. They are firmly involved in the race to finish as the Number 1 Seed in the Conference too, although it might be a little intimidating for other teams to hear that the Chiefs feel there are still gears to move through before this season comes to an end.

All four teams in the AFC West are still battling for PlayOff spots and that means Kansas City can not take their eye off the ball with five games left to play in the regular season. They do have a potentially pivotal game against the Los Angeles Chargers coming up on Thursday Night Football in Week 15 and that is a potential distraction considering they hold a blow out win over the opponent they face this week.

The Las Vegas Raiders (6-6) have every chance of finishing strong and battling into the top seven in this Conference, but they have lost four of their last five games and injuries have been hurting this team. Everyone knows the situation around Henry Ruggs, but Darren Waller has been missing with an injury and I do think that hurts the Raiders massively on the Offensive side of the ball.

Las Vegas have been struggling Offensively for a few weeks and now they have to face a Kansas City team that have earned this five game winning run thanks to the strong Defensive performances being produced. The Chiefs have not allowed more than 17 points in any game since the end of October and they have already showcased their ability on this side of the ball in the heavy win over the Raiders in Week 10.

While the game is close, the Raiders can lean on Josh Jacobs who should be able to find some room to attack the Chiefs on the ground, but I still think that is a tough ask for the Raiders. You have think the Chiefs will know about that and taking away Jacobs would mean an inconsistent passing game led by Derek Carr is all that is between them and a sixth win.

Josh Jacobs has shown decent hands when Receiving too, but Las Vegas have to stay in front of the chains if only to ease the Kansas City pass rush, which has helped this Chiefs team push forward.

The Raiders should have some success throwing the ball, but in recent weeks it has been a tough task for opponents and I do think it should be the side of the ball in which Kansas City are most comfortable.

It will surprise many to read that when considering the quality of Patrick Mahomes at Quarter Back for Kansas City, but it has been a difficult stretch for him, arguably the most difficult since he joined the pro ranks. The numbers are not too bad, but Kansas City can't get out of their own way at times, although the best performance produced by Mahomes this season came in the win over the Raiders.

Running the ball will be a challenge for Kansas City and that will mean leaning on Patrick Mahomes even more, but I do think he can do what needs to be done to keep the chains moving. He can scramble away from pressure, but Mahomes is also capable of spreading the ball all around and there should be plenty of time given to the Quarter Back by his Offensive Line.

Kansas City should have enough to ease past Las Vegas as long as the Thursday Night Football came is one they can put to the back of the mind. That is going to be tough considering how important that game could be in the Divisional race in the AFC West, but the Chiefs won't have forgotten the home loss to the Raiders in 2020 and I expect that will mean Kansas City should be motivated to make a statement.

A loss would also give the Raiders life in the Divisional race so it is important for the Chiefs to focus.

The Chiefs have been a poor home favourite to back and Las Vegas have been a really good road underdog, but Kansas City are 4-1 against the spread in the last five against this Divisional rival here and I think they will be able to cover a big number.

New Orleans Saints @ New York Jets Pick: Five losses in a row will hurt any team in the NFL, even with the extended seventeen game regular season, but the New Orleans Saints (5-7) are still alive when it comes to fighting for position in the PlayOffs. Injuries have decimated the team over the last few weeks and that has seen them slump away from the top of the NFC South and now struggling to keep up with those teams in the Wild Card places.

Some of those injuries look to be clearing up and the Saints are a big favourite to win in Week 14, although they are heading out on the road. Some of that is down to the fact that the Saints are facing the New York Jets (3-9) who are close to being eliminated from the post-season.

The Jets were blown out by the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 13 and they are also dealing with injuries and the team may have already begun to think about the end of another season that comes without a PlayOff place attached to it. A non-Conference game may not mean as much to New York who are hosting Divisional rivals Miami next week and looking to play spoiler for them, while an inconsistent Jets team may have some difficulty getting on top of a New Orleans team that may be as healthy as they can be.

Alvin Kamara is the biggest name that could return, but the Offensive Line may be restored to full health and Cameron Jordan is expected to be back for the Defensive Line. That is really important for the New Orleans Saints who have a huge game coming up against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but who can't afford to drop this game if they are going to finish in the top seven in the NFC.

Having Kamara back and Taysom Hill at Quarter Back should mean New Orleans are able to have success moving the ball on the ground, although that will also mean going against the best unit the New York Jets have. The Jets Defensive Line have been pretty stout against the run, but with the Saints looking like they could have their Offensive Line back intact, I think it is a chance for the road team to at least move into a position where they can open up the passing lanes.

Taysom Hill is going to play through an injury, and he did have some issues throwing the ball in Week 13, but he also had some very big plays against the Dallas Cowboys and he should be able to move the ball against this Jets Secondary. In recent weeks, the Jets Secondary have played better and the Saints don't have the most recognisable of Receiving corps, but Hill showed he can help this Offense find a spark that has been missing of late and that should see them have more success than they have been used to.

Injuries have been an issue for the New Orleans Saints, but it has been a major problem for the New York Jets and there are a number of players that will be missing. Corey Davis will be a big miss in the Wideout spots, and the Jets have had issues finding consistency on the Offensive side of the ball throughout this season.

Michael Carter is one of the players that will be missing for the Jets and he had given them a spark at Running Back, but it may still be possible to have some joy pounding the rock. That will only be an option as long as the Jets keep this game close, but over the last three games the Saints have struggled to stop the run and Sean Payton will be looking to have spent the extra time between games to get this team back to basics.

The Secondary are still playing well and I do think the potential return of Cameron Jordan is big news for the Saints Defensive Line as they look to snap their run of losses. He can help the pass rush get after Zach Wilson against this New York Offensive Line and I do think the Saints can win by around a Touchdown on the road.

In recent weeks the Saints have not been a good favourite to back, but under Sean Payton they have been a strong road favourite. The New York Jets have been struggling with players perhaps looking ahead to the end of the season and I think that could see them struggle to remain competitive, especially with a Divisional game on deck that could serve as a distraction for the Jets.

MY PICKS: Dallas Cowboys - 4.5 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Seattle Seahawks - 8.5 Points @ 1.91 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Kansas City Chiefs - 9.5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (2 Units)

New Orleans Saints - 5.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (2 Units)

Los Angeles Chargers - 9.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (2 Units)

San Francisco 49ers - 2.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet365 (2 Units)

Buffalo Bills + 3.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet365 (2 Units)

Chicago Bears + 11.5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (2 Units)